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Lifestyle Risk Factors

Lifestyle risk factors such as diet and exercise are part of controllable risk factors. Lifestyle risk factors are habits or behaviors people choose to engage in. If changed, they can directly affect some medical risk factors by improving them.

A healthy diet can help you reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve your overall health, and help you reach or maintain a healthy weight. Eating healthy includes making informed decisions about food choices and balancing your calories. The Key Recommendations from the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans include the following:

Healthier eating habits include:

A variety of vegetables from all of the subgroups — dark green, red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), starchy, and other

A variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), and nuts, seeds, and soy products

Oils

Healthier eating habits limit:

Saturated fats and trans fats, added sugars, and sodium

The following components are of specific concern with individuals needing to stay within specific calorie limits:

Consume less than 10 percent of calories per day from added sugars

Consume less than 10 percent of calories per day from saturated fats

Consume less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day of sodium

Consume alcohol in moderation—up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men—and only by adults of legal drinking age.

In addition to the recommendations above, people of all ages—children, adolescents, adults, and older adults— should meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans to help promote health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Excess weight puts a strain on the entire circulatory system. It can also make people more likely to have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, all of which can increase stroke risk.

Physical Activity

Physical activity includes anything that gets your body moving. A recent study showed that people who exercise five or more times per week have a reduced stroke risk. The latest recommendations from the Center for Disease Control on Physical Activity Guidelines for adults include the following:

Moderate Activity. 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week (brisk walking, water aerobics, bicycling) and two or more days a week of muscle-strengthening activities.

– OR –

Vigorous Activity. 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week (jogging, running, swimming laps) and two or more days a week of muscle-strengthening activities.

– OR –

An equivalent mix of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity and two or more days a week of muscle-strengthening activities.

Break it up. If you can’t fit a 30-minute activity in at one time, break it up into 10-minute segments. Remember that all physical activity counts.

Make physical activity fun. Walk or bike with a friend, take a dance class, and try different times of the day.

Smoking doubles the risk of stroke when compared to a nonsmoker. Smoking increases clot formation, thickens blood, and increases the amount of plaque buildup in the arteries. If you smoke, try as hard as possible to stop. Ask your doctor about quit-smoking aids like nicotine patches, counseling, and programs that are available to you. Quitting smoking can be difficult, so don’t give up if you are not successful the first time you try.

Alcohol Use

Alcohol use has been linked to stroke in many studies. Drinking too much alcohol can increase blood pressure and the risk of stroke. Aim to drink in moderation – no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women.

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